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Centering Selected Component in Tree

Centering Selected Component in Tree

Centering Selected Component in Tree

(OP)
NX 7.5

Is there a way that when you select a component in modeling space that it will automatically highlight and center the assembly navigator on that component?

RE: Centering Selected Component in Tree

Find in navigator will locate a part in assembly navigator when you clicked a part [Not sure whether this is what you wanted]

Nx 7.5.5.4

Teamcenter 8

RE: Centering Selected Component in Tree

You will find the command in Customize-selection bar - find navigator.

Nx 7.5.5.4

Teamcenter 8

RE: Centering Selected Component in Tree

While this will not actually 'center' the list of components in the Assembly Navigator, if the component of interest is NOT currently displayed, it will force the Assembly Navigator to move sufficiently so that it will be visible and highlighted. And if the component of interest is actually part of a sub-assembly, it will cause the tree structure to expand to whatever level is necessary so that the Component can be seen and highlighted.

So to get this to happen, go to...

Tools -> Assembly Navigator -> Find Selected Component...

...and select the component of interest. Note that the dialog will remain open and active so that all you have to do to 'find' another component is to select another one without any additional action(s).

A quicker way to do this is to place your cursor over some 'white' space in the Assembly Navigator, press MB3, select the 'Find Selected Components' option and this will open the same dialog and then you can go from there.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

RE: Centering Selected Component in Tree

An alternate way to get to the command nithink mentioned is to right click in the assembly navigator, choose "find selected components", and select a component. This will highlight the component in the navigator, expanding levels as necessary.

www.nxjournaling.com

RE: Centering Selected Component in Tree

Yes, I forgot about the 'Find In Navigator' icon on the Selection Bar, although this behaves a bit differently then does the Find Selected Component since selecting a second Component will NOT un-highlight the first Component, but it most cases that probably won't make much difference. Other than that, it gives the same results.

For those people moving to NX 8.5, with the introduction of the 'Shortcut Toolbar', items like these are some of the candidates that people may wish to add to the standard 'Shortcut Toolbar' using Customize. I just did this, first with the 'Find in Navigator' icon from the Selection Bar and then the 'Find Selected Component...' from the Tools -> Assembly Navigator menu. In either case, all I have to do now is select my component of interest and when the 'Shortcut Toolbar' comes up (which it will do automatically in NX 8.5 without having to take any additional action) I just select the 'Find' icon from the toolbar and I immediately see it highlighted in the Assembly Navigator.

Also note that in all of the methods described above, even if the Assembly Navigator is closed, it will automatically pop-open so that you can see the highlighted Component.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

RE: Centering Selected Component in Tree

(OP)
So, there is no way to have it automatically find in navigator when a component is selected?

RE: Centering Selected Component in Tree

What exactly do you mean by "automatically"?

We've given you three different schemes which does what you want except that of course you have to initiate the action either by launching a dialog or at least selecting an icon after selecting a Component. I can't see how we can make it any easier than that.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

RE: Centering Selected Component in Tree

(OP)
I definitely appreciate the suggested ways, and they do work, however, an easier way would be to have an option that you can toggle on and off to "Find In Navigator" So you don't have to do another operation. My original question did specify for a way to "automatically highlight and center the assembly navigator on that component". Either way thanks for help.

RE: Centering Selected Component in Tree

I'm currently running NX8, but I think this works the same way in NX7.5: hover your crosshair over a component and a label will display showing the name of the component and the assembly it is in. Also, if the component is visible in the navigator, it will have a lightly highlight the name. Note, this option does not expand levels if it is in a subassembly that is collapsed.

www.nxjournaling.com

RE: Centering Selected Component in Tree

(OP)
Yeah that does work, the main thing is if we have like 100 components we don't want to have to select it then search for it, we just want it to scroll to where it is on it's own.

RE: Centering Selected Component in Tree

Yes, but that temporary highlighting will not cause the Assembly Navigator to move the listing sufficiently for the Component to even be 'lightly highlighted' if it's not already visible.

In the end, once you have NX 8.5 installed, adding one of the 'Find' options to the 'Shortcut Toolbar' for Components will give you the absolute closest to what you're looking for, albeit without ACTUALLY 'centering' the Assembly Navigator list to the highlighted Component.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

RE: Centering Selected Component in Tree

Quote (ChaseWichert)


...we don't want to have to select it then search for it, we just want it to scroll to where it is on it's own.

And how then does the solutions suggested by nithink and myself NOT provide that behavior? And as I said, once you get NX 8.5 installed, this can be streamlined even more.

I hope that you're not expecting us to be open to adding an ADDITIONAL scheme which would provide EXACTLY what you're asking for when we've ALREADY given you 95% of what you've asked for.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

RE: Centering Selected Component in Tree

(OP)
I was simply ASKING if there was a way to do it automatically. However, it seems like you should be able to get rid of of the manual methods and switch to an automatic method that will get it to 100 percent, and be more user friendly. I don't think 95 percent is a fair evaluation. Or maybe have one manual and one automatic way. Just because it is the way it is, doesn't mean there isn't a better way to do it.

RE: Centering Selected Component in Tree

Quote (John)

For those people moving to NX 8.5, with the introduction of the 'Shortcut Toolbar', items like these are some of the candidates that people may wish to add to the standard 'Shortcut Toolbar' using Customize....

I don't mean to go off on a tangent, but does using NX8.5 still have the feel of a computer program written for Windows 3.1 like NX7.5? I just want to make sure that NX8.5 will not force me to load a DOS prompt screen to use certain features.

RE: Centering Selected Component in Tree

And exactly what 'features' would that be?

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

RE: Centering Selected Component in Tree

Yes, you can "ASK" all you want, you can even open an official ER by calling GTAC. However, if you do I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for us to add one more scheme to do that which, as I've stated twice, can be reduced to a SINGLE extra action starting with NX 8.5 (and is almost that easy today by using the 'Find in Navigator' icon on the Selection Bar).

But getting back to the exact behavior that you're ASKING for, do you really think it would be a good idea that EVERYTIME you selected a Component on the screen that the Assembly Navigator should suddenly pop-open, update the display so that the selected Component was precisely centered in the listing, and if needed, expand the listing to whatever level was necessary so that the selected Component was visible? How long do you think it will be before other users, and perhaps even yourself, will be demanding that we make this behavior something that can easily be turned ON/OFF since after awhile having the Assembly Navigator constantly popping-open and flashing as the list is updating is going to get really old? I would hardly call this behavior "user friendly" yet that's exactly what it would be like IF we enhanced NX to do exactly as you're ASKING us to do.

There's an old adage when designing user interfaces: [b]"It can be very difficult to make something easier to user by simply adding to it."{/b]

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

RE: Centering Selected Component in Tree

(OP)
I think you are assuming too many things. I did say that it should be an option with a toggle. And I ASKED if there was a way to do it, not for you to make it happen. I didn't say that these options were dumb and you should please me by adding a new feature. Also, I think you forget the fact that everyone uses NX differently. IE I have my assembly and part navigators undocked and on a separate screen. They are always open. Therefore for me that wouldn't be a big deal to me to have it move so the component or body is visible. And I DON'T care if it is precisely centered at the quantum particle level. I just want it to show up on the navigator instead of having to scroll to see it. And I see the word "CAN" in your saying, meaning that it can also be easy to make something easier to the user by simply adding to it. So Yes I do think that it would be a good idea that EVERY time I click on a component it would AUTOMATICALLY find the component in the tree and scroll to that component.

RE: Centering Selected Component in Tree

Then you must have missed what I suggested in my 12:00noon posting. This basically turns on a 'mode' where all that you to do is select a Component and everything, except the 'centering' bit, will occur. Why don't you give it a shot. And as I've stated, once you get NX 8.5 installed, activating this option will only require a single pick after selecting a Component, and once you're in this mode, even now, it will continue to do what you want until you dismiss the dialog.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

RE: Centering Selected Component in Tree

(OP)
So what you are saying is that you select a component, then open the dialog and it will find the component in the navigator? And while that dialog is open it will find other components that you click on as well. I assume individually and won't find multiple components at the same time. So if that is correct, my question is, why even have the dialog? Why not just an on/off button?

RE: Centering Selected Component in Tree

As I said, in NX 8.5 it can be launched with one extra action, think of this as the 'ON' button, and once you're finished, selecting the 'Esc' key will turn it 'OFF'.

That being said, even without waiting for NX 8.5, you could go into Customize today (in NX 7.5) and add a shortcut or 'Hot-Key' to the...

Tools -> Assembly Navigator -> Find Selected Component...

...menu item whereby making THAT 'Hot-Key' in essence your 'ON' button and the 'Esc' key would be your 'OFF' button. How does that sound?

To test this, using NX 7.5, I went into...

Tools -> Customize...

...selected the 'Keyboard' button at the bottom of the Customize dialog, and then in the 'Categories:' section of the dialog I navigated down to Tools -> Assembly Navigator and then in the 'Commands:' section I found and selected Find Selected Components.... I then in the 'Press new shortcut key:' entry I entered the letter 'c'. I then changed the 'Use new shortcut in:' to 'Application Only' and then hit the 'Assign' button. Then I closed this dialog and then the Customize dialog.

Now all I have to do is press the 'c' key and the 'Find Component' dialog opens and I'm good to go. Then I just press the 'Esc' key to close the dialog.

Note that to save this change to the user interface so that it will never be lost, you will need to resave your current Role.

For now, I can't make it any simpler than that.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

RE: Centering Selected Component in Tree

I can see the preference for the requested behavior when a user has two screens going.

Brand "c" acts this way OOTB.

Can 8.X do it the way ChaseWichert prefers, or not?




Short answer, please.

Proud Member of the Reality-Based Community..

To the Toolmaker, your nice little cartoon drawing of your glass looks cool, but your solid model sucks. Do you want me to fix it, or are you going to take all week to get it back to me so I can get some work done?

RE: Centering Selected Component in Tree

I've already provided him (and anyone else who's interested) with a solution that can implemented today (without having to wait to install NX 8.5) by performing a 1 minute customize session as I described yesterday at 16:27. If that's not acceptable I don't know what would be.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

RE: Centering Selected Component in Tree

(OP)
Yes you did. However, you did not 'simply' answer his question. I think what would be acceptable to capnhook is a 'yes' or 'no'. Your comments about NX 8.5 could be interpreted in many different ways, especially to those of us that don't use it or are not familiar with it, and never actually answered my question of

Quote (ChaseWichert)

So what you are saying is that you select a component, then open the dialog and it will find the component in the navigator? And while that dialog is open it will find other components that you click on as well. I assume individually and won't find multiple components at the same time. So if that is correct, my question is, why even have the dialog? Why not just an on/off button?
You just told me what you said.

When I want to find a component I have no interest in simply finding it and being done, I want to find it and modify something, then I want to move to another one and modify that one. You have been doing a lot of good suggesting of ways to do what we want, but not actually answering if what I asked can just be done. However, based on all of your defensive posts I am assuming that it can't be done how I asked.

Back when I asked

Quote (ChaseWichert)

So, there is no way to have it automatically find in navigator when a component is selected?
A simple 'no that can't be done', would have been sufficient rather than trying to make it seem like what I was asking is completely ridiculous. I don't know if you took me asking that question as me attacking NX or whatever, but it wasn't. It was just a simple question that was quickly blown out of proportion.

RE: Centering Selected Component in Tree

If it has taken you THIS long to figure out that NO, you CANNOT do what you WANT to do EXACTLY the way that you WANT to do it, you're wasting both your's and my time posting on what is seen by most as a 'HELP SITE'. If all you wanted was a YES or NO answer, well then the answer is NO.

However, what I was attempting to do from my first post onward was to offer you WAYS to accomplish basically what you wanted to do in a manner that WAS supported by the software, as well as to inform you, and others, as to how this might change in the latest release, in this case NX 8.5, which has been available for several months now.

As for making what you asked for sound "ridiculous", that was only apparent after you refused to accept that what was already possible could provide you with virtually everything that you had asked for. It was your insistence that only a 100% solutions was acceptable is what resulted in what you claim was I becoming "defensive". Up until then I thought I was helping you by pointing out how you could use the software as it was intended to be used. If that was not what you were looking for, help in getting the most out of what you already had, well I'm sorry that I've wasted your time by making you wade through my posts when all you were looking for was an binary response.

If this explanation is too long or not what you were looking for, perhaps you need to look elsewhere for support. And if you think that's a bit harsh or rude on my part, well I've never hidden for whom I work for so you could easily follow-up by contacting my management team. After all, they're very familiar with me and what I do for the company and our customers as I've been with the company for over 32 years, virtually all of it in a role where I interface with customers who are looking for help or more information about how they can use the current capabilities of the software.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

RE: Centering Selected Component in Tree

(OP)
John, I very much appreciate the help that you have provided to me, and to others that, I have used. You made an assumption that my second question was intended as an 'I don't accept the possible solutions that you and other have provided'. However, I know that questions can be misread, we are all human after all, and I just wanted to make sure that it can't be done like i was asking. That question wasn't answered before I asked again, and I wanted a confirmation, since it wasn't stated, that it isn't possible. I am okay with the answer, no it can't be done like that. But, when suggestions are made without really answering the question asked, it just leaves me to believe that it still might be possible, hence the second question.

RE: Centering Selected Component in Tree

(OP)
I heart NX

RE: Centering Selected Component in Tree

Sorry, I'll try to be more careful next time to clarify what can and what cannot be done out-of-the-box before I start a long thread on how you might get most of what you're looking for with perhaps some compromises. OK?

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

RE: Centering Selected Component in Tree

(OP)
Thanks John. Have a great weekend! And thank you again for the Help.

RE: Centering Selected Component in Tree

We used to have bumper stickers and buttons:

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

RE: Centering Selected Component in Tree

(OP)
Haha. That's awesome.

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